Senate clears path to move ahead on gun bill

Johnson, Thune split on background checks, criminal database

Apr. 12, 2013

Written by

Christopher Doering

WASHINGTON — The Senate voted Thursday to move ahead with legislation that would provide the largest overhaul to gun-control laws in two decades.

The 68-31 procedural vote keeps alive a measure that would expand background checks for gun buyers, boost a national criminal database and crack down on straw purchases of firearms.

South Dakota Democratic Sen. Tim Johnson, who has one shotgun, voted with the majority for the motion to proceed. Republican Sen. John Thune, also a gun owner, voted against it.

“We need to take a comprehensive look at how to address violence in our society, but the legislation before the United States Senate does not address violence and instead would only make it more difficult for law-abiding South Dakotans to legally exercise their constitutionally protected, Second Amendment rights,” said Thune.

Almost four months after the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Conn., and two decades since President Clinton signed the last major gun-control measure, the Senate bill is a long way from becoming law with key details of a final bill still unknown ahead of what is expected to be a lengthy amendment process.

“I believe we can find common sense, reasonable measures that will reduce gun violence in our nation without interfering with rights of responsible gun owners,” said Johnson, who vowed to uphold the Second Amendment and “protect the rights of law-abiding gun owners.”

Senate lawmakers generally agree background checks should be expanded. But it’s unlikely that tougher measures, such as a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, will be part of the legislation. Debate and possible votes on amendments to the bill are expected to begin next week.

Some Republican lawmakers have questioned the effectiveness of a background check. The National Rifle Association also has opposed checks, saying they would not have prevented a shooting like the one at Sandy Hook that killed 20 children and six adults.

House Speaker John Boehner said if legislation is passed by the Senate, his chamber would review it, but he stopped short of assuring action on the bill.

“I fully expect that the House will act on legislation in the coming months,” Boehner said at a news conference. “But to make a blanket commitment (on the Senate’s measure) without knowing what the underlying bill would be would be irresponsible on my part.”

Republican Rep. Kristi Noem, who owns guns, told reporters Thursday there are federal gun control laws that should be enforced before new rules are enacted.

“What this bill currently has in it, it wouldn’t have stopped the tragedies that have occurred in the last several years,” Noem said. “So if we’re not fixing the problem in the bill that is being proposed, I’m not sure why so much time is being spent on it.”

Ledyard King of Gannett’s Washington Bureau contributed to this story.